WASHINGTON — The Senate voted 77-22 on Monday to approve the Protect College Sports Act, a sweeping effort to establish federal rules for college athletics. The bill would give the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption, but its path through the House remains uncertain. The measure would restore the NCAA’s five-year eligibility rule and limits on transfers, and set federal standards for name, image and likeness deals, through which athletes can earn money. It also includes a 5% cap on fees for agents handling those deals, health and safety requirements for schools, and a limit of 20 members per conference. Supporters, including the NCAA, major college programs and President Donald Trump, say the legislation would bring stability to a system reshaped by years of lawsuits over athlete compensation, eligibility and transfers. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington led negotiations that stretched for more than a year. “The problem is that college sports entered this new era without a stable framework to govern it,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Missouri Republican, said before the vote. Cruz has described the current system as a “Wild West.” Opponents counter that the bill would strengthen the NCAA and other powerful institutions while restricting athletes who have used litigation to challenge the association’s rules. The opposition includes labor groups, athlete organizations and the NAACP. Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat and former Stanford football player, voted no, saying the bill protects wealth in college sports while placing burdens on athletes. The debate comes as college sports finances and athlete compensation continue to change. More than 500,000 athletes compete across NCAA divisions each academic year, but high earnings are concentrated among a small number of players, largely in football and men’s basketball at schools in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12. The legislation also seeks to protect women’s and Olympic sports, many of which do not generate revenue. It would require schools to maintain scholarships and roster spots for those programs, but the requirements would expire after nine years for large schools and four years for midsize schools. Schools could also qualify for exemptions based on declining athletic revenue or other financial hardship. Cantwell has cited the elimination of more than 100 women’s and Olympic sports teams since 2023. Supporters say controlling costs could help prevent additional cuts. But Dionne Koller, a University of Baltimore law professor who co-chaired a congressional commission on Olympic and Paralympic sports, said there are other ways to address athletic department finances without cutting those programs. The bill does not directly address the broad rise in athletic department spending, critics say. Cantwell has reported sharp increases from 2005 to 2023 in areas including recruiting, travel and coaching salaries. A separate provision would let conferences pool media rights, while a rule requiring schools moving between major conferences to compete independently for three academic years could deter realignment. That provision drew opposition from Florida Sen. Rick Scott, among others. The House is on recess until after the November midterm elections, and it is not clear when lawmakers might take up the measure or whether it can pass. NCAA President Charlie Baker praised the Senate’s bipartisan vote but said further work is needed before athlete benefits are written into federal law.